Worthing

Worthing's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in health, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 100,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Worthing increased by 7.3%, from just under 97,600 to 105,000.

The addition of almost 7,100 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Worthing was home to, on average, 23 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Worthing

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Worthing increased by one year, from 41 to 42 years.

This urban area had a higher average age than the South East and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 3,700 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population over the age of 80 years decreased by about 1,000.

About 15% of people in Worthing are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Worthing by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Worthing residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.3% to 5.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (80%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66% in 2001. The percentage of Worthing residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell faster here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Worthing decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Worthing, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Worthing

The number of people in Worthing that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 17,000 in 2001 to about 32,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 17% to 30% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious beliefs.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Worthing that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 70,000 in 2001 to about 61,000 in 2011 (from 72% to 58%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 8,500 to just over 8,700. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 8.7% to 8.4%.

Just over 1,300 people (0.8%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 730 in 2001 (1.3%).

The population without a religion in Worthing increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Worthing by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Worthing

The percentage of Worthing residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.8% to 3.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.0%, while the percentage of Worthing residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Worthing, but at a slower rate than in Eastbourne (one of the most statistically similar areas to Worthing based on ONS area classifications).

In Worthing, the proportion of private renting increased from 12% in 2001 to 19% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Eastbourne increased from 14% to 23%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Worthing remained close to 10.0%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 77% to 69%.

Private renting in Worthing increased by 7.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Worthing, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Worthing without children decreased from 69% to 66% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (26%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 25% in 2001. The percentage of households in Worthing with only adult children living with their parents increased from 6.9% to 7.8%.

The proportion of households without children fell faster here than the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 62%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in Worthing that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 12% to 14% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in two (46%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 50% in 2001. The percentage of single people in Worthing increased from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 11% in 2001 to 12% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Worthing residents that were unemployed increased from 2.1% to 3.5% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (55%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 54% in 2001. The percentage of Worthing residents that were self-employed increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Worthing increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Worthing, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Worthing working less than 16 hours increased from 2.1% to 3.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 11 (9.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 12% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Worthing increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Worthing, the South East and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Worthing, which comprised one person, remained close to 36% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 10 (9.6%) households had an unmarried couple, compared with 8.2% in 2001. The percentage of households in Worthing which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 31% to 30%.

The proportion of one-person households fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30%.

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Worthing residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.3% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.9%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Worthing remained close to 1.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Worthing by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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